Does this all come to an end in 2012?

I've thought about since I've seen this idea and I think I could do without it. I would miss being in contact with my family and friends but there's always the computer at the library and if they raise the prices, the money I make on the internet wouldn't cover it. I'd be working to pay extra just so I could work on the internet because if prices were raised the way I think they would be, I'd just break even! I hope it doesn't happen but if it does it'll be one less thing that I include in my budget.

That wouldn't be a completely bad thing. Life would slow down a little bit and people would enjoy it more. There are people in their 20's who have never written a check! When my electricity was gone for 4 days, I didn't really miss the computer. My mom and I played cards, worked in the garden, did projects around the house that we just hadn't gotten around to, sat on the porch and talked. It wouldn't be completely bad if the internet went away, at least to this consumer.

I'm definately with you on that, but computers run the world now - all banks are computerized so you couldn't do any banking to speak of. Yeah, I know most 20's can't write a check or balance a check book, but that is only cause those are "things of the past" the the world doesn't really use anymore. Remember when it was "charge-a-plate", then was "charge card", then "credit card" and now it is "MasterCard or Visa"? And remember when it was Master Charge! Heck I have paid with cash and the cashier looked at me like a calf looking at a new fence with a "what's this stuff?" look on their face and couldn't even make change without the register telling them what to give back! Talk about times changing! Times change and only those that have been through it before know "what they are missing" or what they can do without and still survive. When our grand kids get in their 20's they'll probably be in a similar situation - "remember back in the old days when they used to pay "online"? Now we cyber-pay" or something like that. As kids we (my family) loved sitting by the fireplace or just a kerosine lamp flickering telling stories and hearing about when our parents were kids. But I keept telling my GD's about my "early" life - matter of fact, the other day while I was taking my GD out to lunch before girl scouts, she was planning a day at an amuzement park for the weeekend. I grew up at that "amuzement park" in the 60's before it was a paid amuzement park with rides (Knotts Berry Farm) and was telling her things I did, and to check out things that they sitll might have (sold to a japanese company years ago and they have steadily taken out all the old west ghost town things that were what the whole thing was about in the first place and what I had so much fun with and she spouted out "I wish I could go back in time and live with you when you were a kid - you had so much fun!". Made my day, but at the same time, sad as she will miss all those wonderful experiences!

I would really appreciate hearing your daughter's information on this. You never know what's true and what's not when you get it from the internet! Thanks for helping out with any info you can give us!

sorry, didn't finish my post. I don't know what I'd do without the internet. I not only keep up with my family and friends this way, but do a major part of my shopping with small business owners on the internet. The small business owners wouldn't have the profits and buying power to buy into the networks that would be included in the subscription fee, so there would be an extra fee to access them. I wouldn't be able to pay a subscription fee for the internet plus additional to access these small businesses. These small businesses would loose internet business and would eventually end up closing up shop. It's all just one more step to big business pushing out everybody else.

Version 6? There are versions of the internet?! Tell me more, I never heard of this.

aight.. here u go! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IPv4 is the version 4 and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IPv6 is hte version 6.. i hope its good enough for a best response! :D ciao have a nice day